Two-Dimensional Carbon-Based Materials for Sorption of Selected Aromatic Compounds in Water

The availability of clean water is of pressing concern in developing countries and has been a key area of focus for research and development worldwide. The sixth Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations emphasizes the need for clean water. Aromatic hydrocarbons are emerging organic contaminants that are being found frequently in drinking water, municipal wastewater, and surface water. Conventional wastewater treatment plants have been shown to have limited efficiency in removing these trace pollutants from water. Due to advantages including cost, effectiveness, simplicity of use, and reusability, the adsorption process is recognized as a promising water remediation technology for aromatic compound removal. Advanced carbon-based materials discussed in this chapter are two-dimensional materials, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, and their composites. Their performance towards remediating monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was explored using recent published results between 2007 and 2022 from reputable sources. The concluding section of the chapter presents recommendations for bridging knowledge gaps, as well as suggestions for future research direction.